Premier League acts against illegal broadcasts

The Premier League has issued legal proceedings in a civil claim against Neosat, a business accused of supplying illegal broadcast systems which facilitate pirated streams of its football matches.

This will be the fourth supplier the League has taken civil legal action against in the last 12 months – with a number of others set to follow.

A further two suppliers were recently subject to criminal action and custodial sentences were secured against the individuals involved in both cases.

In a separate development, the Premier League will receive costs in excess of £100,000 (€133, 000) as part of a wave of civil actions and settlements in late 2015 and early 2016.

In all cases the pubs were broadcasting unauthorised foreign broadcasts of the League’s football matches. The pubs are:

The Sun Inn, Burnley (ordered by the High Court to pay £11,000)

The Spider’s Web, Grimsby (ordered by the High Court to pay £10,000)

Hope and Anchor Inn, Oldham (ordered by the High Court to pay £7,000)

The Crown, Gateshead (ordered by the High Court to pay £6,500)

The Auctioneer’s Arms, Stoke on Trent (agreed to pay £10,400)

The Nightjar, Hull (agreed to pay costs of £10,000)

Three Horseshoes, Whetstone, London (agreed to pay costs of £9,750)

The Bluestone, Immingham (agreed to pay costs of £9,750)

The Quays, London N7 (agreed to pay costs of £9,000)

Crown and Cushion, Manchester (agreed to pay costs of £8,000)

Mountain Daisy, Sunderland (agreed to pay costs of £6,750)

The Plough, Milton Keynes (agreed to pay costs of £6,500)

Total: £104,650

“The feedback we have had from publicans in recent years is that we should be focusing on suppliers. We have listened and Neosat will be the fourth major supplier we have taken civil action against in the last 12 months,” the Premier League said in a Statement.

“The actions against suppliers and pubs in recent weeks and months make it absolutely clear that there are huge risks for pubs when they enter into contracts with suppliers other than a commercial subscription with Sky Sports and BT Sport. Our message to pubs is clear: don’t take the risk and call Sky and BT to find out about their latest offers for commercial premises in the UK.”